Features of Metabolite Changes in Disease Evolution in Cholecystolithiasis

Abstract

Background Cholecystolithiasis is defined as a disease caused by complex and changeable factors. Advanced age, female sex, and a hypercaloric diet rich in carbohydrates and poor in fiber, together with obesity and genetic factors, are the main factors that may predispose people to choledocholithiasis. However, serum biomarkers for the rapid diagnosis of choledocholithiasis remain unclear. Aims This study was designed to explore the pathogenesis of cholecystolithiasis and identify the possible metabolic and lipidomic biomarkers for the diagnosis of the disease. Methods Using UHPLC-MS/MS and GC–MS, we detected the serum of 28 cholecystolithiasis patients and 19 controls. Statistical analysis of multiple variables included Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Visualization of differential metabolites was performed using volcano plots. The screened differential metabolites were further analyzed using clustering heatmaps. The quality of the model was assessed using random forests. Results In this study, dramatically altered lipid homeostasis was detected in cholecystolithiasis group. In addition, the levels of short-chain fatty acids and amino acids were noticeably changed in patients with cholecystolithiasis. They detected higher levels of FFA.18.1, FFA.20.1, LPC16.0, and LPC20.1, but lower levels of 1-Methyl- l -histidine and 4-Hydroxyproline. In addition, glycine and l -Tyrosine were higher in choledocholithiasis group. Analyses of metabolic serum in affected patients have the potential to develop an integrated metabolite-based biomarker model that can facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Conclusion Our results highlight the value of integrating lipid, amino acid, and short-chain fatty acid to explore the pathophysiology of cholecystolithiasis disease, and consequently, improve clinical decision-making. Graphical Abstract Using UHPLC-MS/MS and GC–MS, the serum of 28 cholecystolithiasis patients and 19 controls were analyzed. Through differential metabolite analysis, we found that the cholecystolithiasis group was detected with dramatically altered lipid homeostasis compared with healthy controls. In addition, the levels of short-chain fatty acids and amino acids were noticeably changed in patients with cholecystolithiasis. They detected higher levels of FFA.18.1, FFA.20.1, LPC16.0, and LPC20.1, but lower levels of 1-Methyl- l -histidine and 4-Hydroxyproline. Moreover, glycine and l -Tyrosine were higher in choledocholithiasis group. The results not only identify new targets for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cholecystolithiasis but may also provide valuable insights for the research of the disease.